Up Close: Michael Collins, CEO of the Port Authority of Kansas City

Michael Collins, president and CEO of the Port Authority of Kansas City, oversees a body responsible for developing transportation along the Missouri River and promoting development in the River Market neighborhood. He talks about those issues and what inspires him.

What brought you to the Port Authority?

What brought me here was actually my background working for Sen. (Christopher) Bond previously — working on transportation, economic development policy, waterway policy and issues, and appropriations, so it was a natural fit. It was my job to really draft some legislation — mainly with Appropriations — working through a lot of the earmarks, working through a lot of policy initiatives that were going through every legislative cycle. I got to see a lot of the larger-sized deals that happened in Missouri. ... I got to see tangible effects of policy and how it really worked for Missouri’s benefit.

Why are you passionate about transportation?

It’s interesting because transportation is freight, and it’s people. It’s commerce. It’s movement. It’s a movement of goods, commerce. It’s really what connects us. In Kansas City, transportation is our key economic benefit. Transportation, you can’t sum it up into just one entity because at the end of the day ... it’s about commerce. People are commerce. People are moving. People are creating business. It is economic development, and the more transportation opportunities and nodes that we have here, the more viable and competitive Kansas City is and Missouri is.

What can Kansas City do to bring more commerce to the river?

The funny thing is Kansas City was a major (river) hub. The river, the trade of fur was what helped Kansas City become what it is today. We actually have to take steps backwards, and go to our history, and say: “Why were we so competitive? What makes us competitive? What types of goods does this market need?” One thing we’ve looked at very carefully with our partners in St. Louis is scrap metal going down and bringing back rolled steel. But also salt from Louisiana and then the other agricultural commodities that are going through Kansas City on a normal basis. Our job is to promote the ability for private industry to be able to come into Kansas City, Mo., and ship their product and see their product here, at an efficient time on the waterway. The most important thing is if you look at what potential Kansas City can garner when all of its freight transportation modes are uniquely working together, we become even more competitive.

Do you think this is a back to basics approach?

Yes and no. Actually, I think it’s reflecting what we know from the history and utilizing what we know to be more innovative. I think we’re utilizing our history to be more innovative and say: “Let’s embrace a component of that. Let’s embrace the old barge-and-tow structure.”

What will development in the River Market look like?

We will ... create a viable, livable community — an urban village — where people want to have fun, where we’re bringing families in as a diverse group. We want to be as dense as possible, and that means ... we’re going to build upward and vertical. Probably nothing more than seven stories. It’s going to be as dense as possible. We’re not going to focus on parking. We’re going to try to contain that as much as possible so that we have a development ... that focuses on people movement.

How long would it take to be fully developed?

About 10 years ... to say that the product is fully developed and functioning. Developments ... a lot of them have been moving along at an eight- to 10-year period. Our goal is to take our time, be methodical, understand what our market analysis is telling us what we need to do next. Making sure that market analysis and our development efforts create a sustainable area.

As a development tool, how do you think the streetcar can help achieve your goals for the River Market?

I think even it just being close helps us substantially. That’s why we wanted to create a walkable area. When you’re talking about streetcar ... this is a major game-changer for Kansas City. (In populated areas,) people live, work and eat very close to each other. People utilize public transportation. This is an opportunity for Kansas City to do the exact same thing. I know this is not for everyone, but we also have to remember we’re not just selling this for ourselves. Again, it goes back to the competitive component in order to be competitive. ... I would expect there to be skepticism. This is an unchartered path. But remember, we’re going to Kansas City’s past and utilizing that for an innovative future. We were a streetcar model; we had it. It makes sense to try that model again but to do it in an enhanced view.

Are you a Kansas City guy?

I was born in Kansas City, Mo. I grew up in Lawrence, Kan., but moved back to Kansas City when I was still a young age. Kansas City’s home.

What do you like to do for fun in the River Market?

My wife likes to do a lot of antique shopping. So we’ve done First Weekends at the West Bottoms. That was very fun. We’ve been looking for a Victrola — a 1921 Victrola record player — for a few years, and I actually found it last weekend. What else do I like to do? Obviously, I love to play golf. Love to spend time with my three kids — I have two daughters and one son — and obviously spend time with my wife because that’s when I get to get away from work and talking about transportation. My wife doesn’t ask me, “How many barges you guys going to work for this week?” ... We live in Kansas City. We love it. We just love exploring things that we — even though we’re from Kansas City — we still have never yet absorbed it.

How old are the kids?

Isabella is 6, Olivia will be 3 in two and a half weeks, and Landon is 8 months. ... My kids love exploring different things. They love the Sprint Center because of “Disney on Ice” or whatever else. ... They’re also familiar with Downtown at that young age, and that’s even great because I have opportunities to take my children, my wife, to see a concert or a ballgame and then take them to see “Disney on Ice” or something of that nature.

MICHAEL COLLINS

Title: President and CEO, Port Authority of Kansas City Education: Bachelor’s in political science from Park University; MBA from Rockhurst University Background: Worked as a senior aide to former U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond in Washington